“I have come here with my brothers, Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Leronymos, simply to be with you and to hear your stories. We have come to call the attention of the world to this grave humanitarian crisis and to plead for its resolution. As people of faith, we wish to join our voices to speak out on your behalf. We hope that the world will heed these scenes of tragic and indeed desperate need, and respond in a way worthy of our common humanity,” said Pope Francis.

After the visit, the pontiff took with him to Rome three families of refugees from Syria as a gesture of goodwill to the rest of the world. All the members of the three families are Muslims whose homes had been bombed.

“The Pope’s initiative was brought to fruition through negotiations carried out by the Secretariat of State with the competent Greek and Italian authorities. The Vatican will take responsibility for bringing in and maintaining the three families,” read a statement from the Papal office.